After the Prime Minister, it’s the President of Bangladesh who’s within the eye of the storm. Recent protests have damaged out towards President Mohammed Shahabuddin, with Offended protesters broke into the presidential palace. and requesting his dismissal. The brand new disaster in Bangladesh is because of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation letter, or lack thereof.
Sheikh Hasina’s regime was overthrown by weeks of protests and bloodshed all through Bangladesh and the homicide of greater than 300 folks. Hasina was compelled to flee Bangladesh on August 5 as a whole lot of hundreds of protesters marched in direction of his official residence, Ganabhaban.
This got here after an anti-quota agitation became a motion to overthrow it as folks rebelled towards its highhandedness and strangling of democracy. The Awami League, led by Hasina, had been in energy since 2009.
Hasina managed to flee simply in time when the mob ransacked Ganabhaban. He needed to document a farewell speech, however with the ocean of protesters quickly approaching Ganabhaban, the military gave him 45 minutes to pack his luggage and depart Bangladesh to save lots of his life.
These final moments are what have fueled the most recent frenzy.
Sheikh Hasina, alongside together with her youthful sister Rehana, reportedly arrived on the Tejgaon air base helipad, adjoining to her official residence. A few of his belongings had been loaded on board.
He was reported to have then gone to Bangabhobon, the President’s home, the place he tendered his formal resignation to President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
However there is no such thing as a letter of resignation, not less than so far as President Shahabuddin is aware of. That is what Shahabuddin mentioned in an interview with Janatar Chokh. He mentioned he had solely heard that Hasina had resigned, however had no proof of her resignation.
“I attempted [to collect the resignation letter] many occasions however failed. Perhaps he did not have time,” Shahabuddin informed Janatar Chokh.
WHY IS SHEIKH HASINA’S RESIGNATION LETTER IMPORTANT?
The significance of Hasina’s resignation letter is that it legitimizes the interim authorities headed by Muhammad Yunus. In any other case, the federal government could be seen as illegitimate and having seized energy amid an influence vacuum in Bangladesh.
Critics of the federal government have already began questioning it over the dearth of Hasina’s resignation letter.
“Sheikh Hasina didn’t resign as prime minister and remains to be alive. Subsequently, Yunus’ authorities is unlawful,” mentioned exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen.
“Everybody in Bangladesh lied. The military chief mentioned Hasina resigned. The president mentioned Hasina resigned. Yunus mentioned Hasina resigned. However nobody has seen the resignation letter. A resignation letter is sort of a god, everybody says that it’s there, however nobody can present it or show that it’s there,” Nasreen mentioned on X on Wednesday.
nasreen was compelled to flee Bangladesh within the 90s attributable to a fatwa on his guide Lajja. Like Sheikh Hasina, Nasreen can also be in India.
BANGLADESH GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO VERIFY FACTS TO THE PRESIDENT
Asif Nazrul, authorized adviser to the interim authorities, mentioned President Shahabuddin had mentioned in a speech that Hasina had resigned and was now contradicting herself.
“You realize that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over her resignation letter to the president and I acquired it,” Shahabuddin mentioned in a televised deal with to the nation on the evening of August 5, hours after Hasina fled the conflict-torn nation.
Asif Nazrul mentioned the president lied throughout his speech or now, and will face the cost of falsehood.
Though there’s a provision to take away the president, the The provisional authorities could not take such a drastic step and let the protesters put strain on Shahabuddin.
WHY PROTESTING STUDENTS WANT THE PRESIDENT OF BANGLADESH TO LEAVE
There is a purpose why leaders of the Pupil Anti-Discrimination Motionwhich was the umbrella group beneath which the anti-Hasina protests had been organized, desires President Shahabuddin gone.
Shahabuddin, who entered politics by the Chhatra League and the Jubo League, served as a coordinator within the trial to prosecute the murderers of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The Chhatra League and the Jubo League are the scholar and youth wings of the Awami League respectively.
Between 2011 and 2016, Shahabuddin was appointed commissioner of the Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Fee.
In 2023, Shahabuddin, additionally recognized by his nickname Chuppu, was nominated by the Awami League as its candidate for President of Bangladesh, after which he was elected unopposed to the ceremonial place.
On Tuesday, a whole lot of protesters attacked Bangabhaban and police had to make use of drive to maintain them away.
Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam, two of the highest leaders of the Pupil Anti-Discrimination Motion, intervened and requested the protesters to depart, promising that change would come inside two days, the Dhaka-based Day by day Star reported.
“We are going to expel Chuppu on Wednesday or Thursday,” Hasnat mentioned, based on a Dhaka Tribune report.
“Selections in regards to the subsequent president might be made primarily based on consultations with all political events. If we take away Chuppu with out figuring out who would be the subsequent president, neighboring nations may take the chance to conspire towards us; “They may intrude in our inner affairs at any time, citing the absence of a president,” Hasnat informed the Dhaka Tribune.
The reference to “neighboring nations” might be India, as anti-Hasina events have all the time blamed India for serving to Sheikh Hasina stay in energy since she gained elections in 2009.
Hasnat acknowledged that the following president might be chosen on the recommendation of “oppressed political events for the final 15 years.” Which means the Awami League would play no function within the choice of the brand new president.
Protesters have returned to the streets of Bangladesh and try to oust President Shahabuddin, the final of Hasina’s loyalists. All due to Hasina’s resignation letter or the dearth of it.
